We got plenty of photos of dogs and cats climbing into toilets and drinking out of water faucets, too!
While these stories are funny, we want to help you keep your pets safe and avoid any potential plumbing disasters. Read on to learn what you should know about your pets and plumbing!
- Don’t Leave Your Toilet Seat Up!
For some reason, the toilet bowl is tempting to a lot of dogs and cats, whether they want to drink out of it or just play in the water.
If your animal is on the smaller side, there’s always the chance he or she could fall into the toilet and have a hard time getting back out. You also need to consider what the cleaning agents you use in your toilet. The chemicals can be harmful to your dog or cat if ingested.
So, remember to keep that toilet lid down!
- Don’t Flush Cat Litter
Cat litter is high on our list of things you should never flush down the toilet. In fact, even if it’s labeled flushable, we advise you not to flush it. The extra solids in the flushable litter can take a serious toll on your plumbing systems and clog them. Your cat’s litter may also carry harmful bacteria, and flushing it may even be illegal, depending on where you live.
- Watch Out for Fur in the Tub
Do you give your pets regular baths? If so, make sure you’re using a drain strainer so the fur doesn’t clog your drain! Once the strainer is full, dispose of the fur in the trash. You could also consider bathing your pets outside if that’s a viable alternative!
- Secure Your Drains and Your Pipes
We’ve talked a lot about dogs and cats. But if you have smaller animals – guinea pigs, hamsters, mice – they can get easily get trapped in drains. It could even happen if you have a particularly curious kitten!
Pipes can also be a hazard. Again, if you have a small animal, you run the risk of the pet getting trapped behind the pipes. But a more likely scenario is you could have a pet that likes to chew on exposed pipes. This could damage the pipes (especially PVC pipes) and your pet’s teeth. To prevent this, we suggest wrapping the pipes up. If the pipes are outside, try using plywood, then covering them with dirt. Chicken wire is another option. If the pipes are inside, you could conceal them by placing furniture, such as a decorative table or bookshelf, in front of them.
